By Megan Alley
Sun staff
Final plans are underway for Bethel’s Farmers’ Market, which is set to begin later this month.
The market will feature produce, meats and eggs, bakery items and home goods such as honey soap, from local farmers and makers.
Organizer Gloria Canter, a longtime resident of Bethel, owner of the now closed Pickers’ Paradise antique shop, co-founder of the annual “Antiques on the Square” bazaar and former member of the Bethel Business Association, hopes the market will attract visitors to Bethel.
“I work really hard at trying to keep people in Bethel,” Canter said. “I want people in Bethel; our town is dwindling up to nothing.”
She added, “When I had my antique store, I did everything I could to try to get things happening in town and to get people into town, so this is just another adventure I came up with.”
The market, which will be set up in the empty parking lot between the O’Reilly Auto Parts and Sunoco Gas Station on Plane Street, will open rain or shine on Fridays, starting June 24, from 4-7 p.m.
“I know the traffic is bad coming into Bethel in the evenings, but I’m hoping people drive carefully and that they’re really safe going in and out,” Canter said.
The market will run until September or October, which is yet to be determined, according to Canter.
Vendor spaces, which cost $5, are still available.
Canter hopes people in the community will enjoy eating the fresh vegetables from the market.
“It’s just healthier; it’s a healthier way of eating,” she said.
The farmers’ market will also help local growers, Canter explained.
“It helps by giving the small farmers a place to sell their produce,” she said.
She added, “It will help us out in a healthy way, and it will help them out to sell their produce and not waste it.”
For more information about the Bethel Farmers’ Market or to inquire about vendor spaces, call Canter at 513-734-2298.